Background With the increasing demand for specialized ophthalmic nursing care, evidence‐based training methods are crucial. This study evaluated the effectiveness of problem‐based learning (PBL) combined with porcine eye model compared to traditional lecture‐based learning (LBL) in ophthalmic nurse training. Methods This was a parallel‐group, single‐blind, randomized controlled trial conducted from July to September 2023 at two tertiary hospitals in Hebei Province, China. Sixty ophthalmic nurses were randomly allocated (1:1) to either PBL combined with porcine eye model (intervention group, n = 30) or traditional LBL (control group, n = 30) using stratified block randomization. The primary outcome was clinical competency assessed by the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Secondary outcomes included theoretical knowledge, self‐directed learning ability, and training satisfaction. Assessments were conducted by blinded evaluators. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results All 60 participants completed the trial. The intervention group demonstrated significantly higher OSCE scores compared to the control group (mean difference 8.5 points, 95% CI 6.2–10.8, p < 0.001, d = 1.32). Theoretical examination scores (92.3 ± 6.4 vs. 83.8 ± 7.2, p < 0.001, d = 1.24), self‐directed learning ability (162.5 ± 18.2 vs. 143.7 ± 20.1, p < 0.001, d = 0.98), and training satisfaction (4.5 ± 0.5 vs. 3.8 ± 0.7, p < 0.001, d = 1.16) were also significantly higher in the intervention group. No adverse events were reported. Conclusion PBL combined with porcine eye model significantly improved clinical competency, theoretical knowledge, and self‐directed learning ability in ophthalmic nurses compared to traditional teaching methods. This innovative approach provides a valuable framework for specialized nursing education.
Wang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.